Friday, May 26, 2017

Of the 31 Maute Group members killed by the military in the ongoing clearing operations in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, at least six are foreigners.

"We received certain information that among the 31 killed, of the 12 identified, at least six of them are foreigners, but we are still validating this information," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla on Friday.

Possible nationalities of the six slain terrorists are Malaysians and Indonesians.

Aside from fighting government forces, these terrorist elements are also helping lawless groups in the country in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices and bombs.

The clash between Maute Group members started 2 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Basak, Malutlut when government security forces learned of the presence of Abu Sayyaf Isnilon Hapilon, who was allied with the lawless element, and his cohorts.

Hapilon was reported severely wounded in the series of military operations in Lanao Del Sur early this January.

The former is reportedly the representative of the ISIS terror group in the Philippines.

From the Philippine News Agency (May 27): Pres. Duterte vows full support for troops fighting Maute

President Rodrigo Duterte has promised full support for government troops fighting the Maute group in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province.

“May full support kayo sa akin. (You have my full support.) I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel to look for money to see you through,” President Duterte told members of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Maria Cristina, Iligan City Friday.

In his speech before the soldiers, he vowed that his administration will provide everything they need.

“And because we have the weapons and the equipment, and we have the air assets to help you, we will try our very best na magamit lahat (to use all of them) to protect you at the time when you are fighting,” President Duterte said.

The Chief Executive also said he would take full responsibility for the outcome of martial law in Mindanao.

"Sasamahan ko kayo (I will be with you)... If you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible. Trabaho lang kayo. Ako na ang bahala (Just do your job and I will take care of the rest)," he said.

For the wounded soldiers, the President said there is a modernized hospital for them and that he has bought all the equipment needed.

President Duterte later proceeded to the Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital in Iligan City to visit 29 soldiers who were wounded in action, extending each a PHP100,000 check, part of the assistance they would receive.

He then went to St. Peter’s Funeral Homes in Iligan City to pay his last respects to fallen soldiers and policemen.

For the family of each dead policeman and soldier, PHP250,000 will be extended upon completion of requirements.

He also visited the wake of two civilian casualties, an ambulance driver and an ambulance utility personnel.

"I think they would like to have an engagement with ASEAN and since we are the chairman now, maybe they would like to have a foothold maybe to deal with the other members of the ASEAN,"Lorenzana said when asked about the warming of security and defense ties between the Philippines and Russia, during an interview on PNA Exclusive in Moscow, Russia at about 2 p.m. Tuesday (7 p.m. in Manila)."In fact, they are already dealing with other members of ASEAN, like Vietnam, because they had a close relationship before. In fact, Vietnam has bought from them some military equipment."

Lorenzana was part of President Rodrigo Duterte's four-day visit to Russia, a trip that was cut short by the fighting between Maute Group terrorists and military units in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

Earlier, the two nations signed an Agreement on Defense Cooperation that will pave the way for more exchanges between their defense establishments.

From the Philippine News Agency (May 27): Analyst says Maute Group more terrorist than extremist

There is a difference between religious extremism and terrorism.

This was pointed out by Singaporean political analyst, Dr. Rohan Gunaratna during the “Extremism and Martial Law Forum” aired on the People’s Television Network (PTV4) Friday night.

Gunaratna was interviewed live via Skype during the program and was asked to distinguish ideological or religious extremism from terrorism.

It has been a misconception among non-Islamic people that Islam preaches violence as invoked by radical groups, such as the Islamic State of Lanao formed by the Maute brothers and under the command of Isnilon Hapilon, he said.

Gunaratna explained that there is such a thing as ideological extremism, which can be interpreted as a more conservative practice of religion, such as that imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, where women are not allowed to get an education and are required to be fully covered up in public.

He however noted that the Islamic State of Lanao led by the Mautes, is not an extremist group.

”They are a terrorist group because they have killed civilians. They have burned churches so they have demonstrated that they have gone beyond the phase of extremism into violence and this is now a terrorist organization and the state will have to deal with them in order to contain, isolate and eliminate the threat so they do not pose a future security threat to the Philippines,” Gunaratna emphasized.

During the discussion, it was mentioned that a trademark of terrorist groups around the world is taking action against “soft targets” — civilians and non-military infrastructure. This brings to mind the Davao City Night Market bomb blast in September last year that killed 15 persons and wounded about 69 others. A few weeks after the incident, defense officials presented to the media three members of the Maute Group said to be responsible for the blast.

Gunaratna further said that what happened in Marawi City was not a failure of intelligence, citing that since 2014, there has been information on the existence of the Maute Group.

”Last year, Isnilon Hapilon came from Basilan and he linked up with Omar and Abdullah Maute. So, I believe it is not intelligence failure. It is a failure to appreciate intelligence and government has to double up their capabilities to appreciate intelligence,” he said.

”Unfortunately, the previous government did not acknowledge that ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) was recruiting and even government officials were saying there was no ISIS.”

Since Tuesday, several hostages were reportedly taken by the group, among them a Catholic priest. The Catholic Church in Marawi City was burned down and several structures have been damaged, including a transmission tower, causing power outage in the city.

Two ambulance drivers were killed and their vehicles commandeered by the group. A senior police officer was also killed at a checkpoint manned by the Maute.

The violence has resulted in loss of life of both innocent civilians and government troops and has forced residents to flee to neighboring cities for their safety.

Those in the Muslim faith have professed that Islam is not about violence as some groups would like to portray and besmirch its good name. Native Maranaws from Marawi are saddened by the fact that their beautiful and peaceful city has become a battleground, especially on the eve of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Gunaratna said President Rodrigo Duterte’s recognition of ISIS presence in the Philippines is critical to the solution.

The analyst also noted that although the country’s military and police personnel are capable, they need to undergo re-training as they are dealing with terrorism.

They have to upgrade both their skills and equipment in fighting terrorism, he said.

The MPACs left Naval Base Heracles Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite City last Monday for Sasa Wharf where they will be among the highlights of the Navy's 119th founding anniversary on May 31, along with the brand-new BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602), the country's second strategic sealift vessel.

Along the way, the MPACs passed several ports to refuel and reprovision, and conducted endurance and speed runs, as well as a series of maneuvers at sea to familiarize the crew with the brand-new equipment, Lincuna said.

The boats were formally turned over and commissioned into the Philippine Fleet during a short ceremony at Naval Base Heracleo Alano last May 22.

These MPACs are the Mark III models and are considerably more advance than the six Mark I and IIs currently in the inventory.

Lincuna said the MPACs, with hull numbers BA-488, BA-489, and BA-491, were commissioned and quickly sent off to Davao City by Philippine Fleet commander, Rear Adm. Gaudencio Collado, after a ceremony at the Capt. Moya Boat Landing.

The PN spokesperson said the MPACs will form the 3rd Boat Attack Division of the Philippine Fleet's Littoral Combat Force.

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (May 25): Duterte regime’s martial law will further isolate it from the people

Communist Party of the Philippines

25 May 2017

By imposing martial law and curtailing the civil and political rights, GRP President Duterte is further isolating his regime from the people. In the vain hope of justifying his imposition of martial law in Mindanao and plan to impose it on the entire country, he yesterday described Marcos martial law as “good” in all-out contempt of the Filipino people’s sufferings under the 1972-1986 military dictatorship.

Reminiscent of the detested ASSO (Arrest, Search and Seizure Order) of Marcos, Duterte yesterday ordered the military to carry out searches and arrests without warrant. He has ordered the AFP to conduct checkpoints, curfews and other restrictions which violate the people’s freedom of movement. By imposing such severe measures, he aims to establish himself as a strongman who will not tolerate challenges to his authority.

In Davao City, mini-dictator Sarah Duterte is taking advantage of the martial law declaration by coming up with a long-list of anti-democratic measures which seeks to restrict that people’s freedoms, particularly their right to assemble, to express their grievance and seek redress. Like her father, she also wants to prohibit other acts which she deems as challenges to her authority and power.

Duterte’s assurances yesterday that he will not tolerate abuses is utterly worthless. He wants to highlight the fact that civilian courts remain open, but neglect to point out that these are powerless amid the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus which has given him and the military absolute power to detain anyone indefinitely. He has also constantly threatened the Supreme Court against issuing restraining orders to preventing him from carrying out acts which potentially violate the GRP’s laws.

Prior to the imposition of martial law, soldiers of the AFP are notorious for military abuses against the people. With Duterte’s martial law, the fascist troops of the AFP are bound to carry out greater abuses with even greater impunity as they are no longer restricted by legal niceties.

He has extended the term of office of Gen. Eduardo Año as chief of staff of the AFP and has appointed him as supposed administrator of martial law. He has put a notorious violator of human rights and perpetrator of abductions and other dirty war tactics at the helm of his martial law regime. By giving Año vast powers, Duterte might have succeeded in gaining his favor and preempting him from joining or leading a coup to establish a military junta. However, he also enhanced the influence and power of the US interventionists through its zealots in the AFP’s echelon who are determined to pull his regime back under exclusive US hegemonic power.

Duterte has made a bogeyman of the so-called Maute Group. That the display of the black “ISIS” flag has threatened his powers as GRP president is an overstretch of his imagination. Duterte and the AFP could not even give the public a credible estimate of the strength of this group. There are well-grounded fears that some forces may carry out dirty operations to justify the extension and expansion of Duterte’s martial law to cover the entire country.

New People's Army-Mindoro propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (May 23): 4IB killed civilian, not NPA, in a ‘misencounter’ in Mindoro

Ka Madaay Gasic, SpokespersonNPA-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman Command)

23 May 2017

The New People’s Army-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman Command) and the revolutionary movement in Mindoro island strongly condemn the recent atrocity committed by elements of 4th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army.

Mario Versosa, 35-40 years old, was killed by 4IBPA troops during a misencounter in Sityo If-if, Barangay Cambunang, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro on May 21.

Versosa is a police asset and a resident of Barangay Purnaga, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro, which is located at the southernmost part of the province and adjacent to Bulalacao town. Residents there believe that Versosa visited a relative residing in the town.

Soldiers are quick to release their media stunt to announce victory over a supposed firefight with the NPA.

Soldiers must be desperate after an NPA unit operating in Southern Mindoro successfully attacked a new military detachment being set in the area, afternoon on May 20. Residents there suspect that the camp is intended to secure a coal mining expected to operate in their village.

The NPA team immediately left the area on the same day after their successful operation. Soldiers reportedly conducted security patrol around the camp at 5 a.m. on May 21 and accidentally fired on Versosa resulting to the latter’s death. Soldiers planted a pistol and a hand grenade on Versosa and tagged him a rebel to justify the misencounter as a legitimate operation against the NPA.

The revolutionary movement in Mindoro laments with Versosa’s bereaved family. NPA-Mindoro is up in arms to launch a punitive action against the army troops who committed this vile act. This is an atrocity in the highest magnitude the revolutionary movement can never condone.

National Democratic Front-Mindanao propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (May 25): The Filipino people in Mindanao and the country must strongly oppose Martial Law

Ka Joaquin Jacinto, SpokespersonNDFP Mindanao

25 May 2017

The NDFP in Mindanao strongly condemns the imposition of Martial Law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, through Presidential Proclamation No. 216, in all 27 provinces and 33 cities in the Mindanao island. We urgently call upon all Filipinos in Mindanao and the rest of the country to unite and rise in militant protest to oppose this draconian edict and push for its immediate lifting.

By placing Mindanao under Martial Rule, the fundamental rights, civil liberties and freedoms of millions of innocent civilians in Mindanao, especially the Moro people, are placed under the threat of abuse by the forces of the AFP, PNP and its paramilitary groups, who are emboldened to commit abuses, such as enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and hamletting among others, with impunity now that they have been given power over and above civilian authority.

Even the so-called “safeguards” in the 1987 Phil. Constitution cannot guarantee that the AFP and the PNP will not overstep in the implementation of Martial Law in the next two months or more because of its notoriously long history of human rights violations. The main implementers of Proclamation 216 under the Duterte government, particularly Gen. Eduardo Año, Delfin Lorenzana, Hermogenes Esperon, etc., are themselves rabid human rights violators and are styled after the Marcosian brand of militarism.

The recent siege in Marawi City by the so-called Maute Group, which is being made to appear as having links with ISIS, was a brutal assault against the people of Marawi. We condemn in the strongest terms possible this attack, which has mercilessly caused the deaths of a number of individuals and the destruction of livelihood and properties in the city.

However, the Maute problem is but a result of the long-standing Moro problem, which, time and again, the GRP has intentionally neglected and worsened the situation through deceptive solutions. For decades, the Moro people in Mindanao have been thrown into a perpetual state of oppression, exploitation and chauvinism, which has only made it possible for groups with extremist ideals to take root among their ranks.

Thus, on one hand, the GRP has only itself to blame for perpetuating and intensifying national oppression against the Moro people, making the Marawi attack and similar acts possible in recent history. On the other hand, the reactionary government has also taken advantage of this fact by either rearing or tolerating groups such as the Maute or the Abu Sayyaf to serve as means to justify any brazen move on their part to help consolidate or perpetuate themselves in power.

It appears that the Maute siege and the subsequent imposition of Martial Law, which is apparently intended to cover not just Mindanao but the entire country, is being used to play into a grand scheme to entrench themselves in power and thwart any and all effort at deposing the Duterte regime by way of coup d’etat or other similar attempts at regime change.

Whether they will admit to this or not, by placing the entire Mindanao island under Martial Law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus, only the Filipino people ultimately stands to gain nothing and lose everything, from their basic rights and freedoms down to their very source of our livelihood.

The NDFP-Mindanao therefore urges all Mindanaoans, all Filipinos, to stand united in our opposition against the imposition of Martial Law in Mindanao. Martial law is not and will never be the solution to the basic problems that prevail in the country, in fact, it will only serve to aggravate and worsen it. Mindanao is just the beginning; we must mobilize to stop it from spreading to the Visayas and Luzon, and push for its lifting.

We encourage the people to use all available means, including social media, to express strong, unequivocal denunciation of the resurrection of a reviled Marcosian edict. Join all forms of protests organized in school halls, barangay centers and in the streets to amplify our strong opposition.

Furthermore, the NDFP-Mindanao calls on all revolutionary forces to redouble their effort at defending the people from the onslaught of Martial Law. In the final analysis, strengthening the revolutionary armed struggle is the only effective way to fight against the brutality of Martial Law. The various guerrilla fronts in Mindanao are open, and welcomes all who pass the requisites, especially those who come from the cities and are under threat of capture by enemy forces, to join the ranks of the New People’s Army.

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (May 25): Response to Bello’s claim that martial law is not against the NPACommunist Party of the Philippines

25 May 2017

GRP chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III insists that the CPP made an error in calling on the New People’s Army to intensify its tactical offensives against the AFP. He claims the declaration of martial law in Mindanao is not against the NPA.

Not only is Duterte’s martial law against the NPA, it is against the people in general. It curtails the people’s civil and political rights. It curtails their freedom of movement and other freedoms. Martial law transfers these freedoms to the military and subjects the people to abuse. Under martial law, it is the military, these notorious abusers of human rights, who rule.

In Davao City, with its overzealous martial law supporter Mayor Sarah Duterte, people in their communities are being rounded up. Close to three hundred people have already been arbitrarily arrested by the military for failing to comply with the arbitrary rules imposed by the military and the militarist-minded bureaucrats. Duterte’s martial law is bound to be worse than its Oplan Tokhang.

With these stringent policies, Duterte is demonstrating that under his martial law, everyone is a suspect until they can prove otherwise. As every Filipino knows, especially the poor and downtrodden, proving one’s innocence to the military is often impossible.

The GRP must be made to answer for these gross violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). These are in addition to the outstanding issues of close to 500 political prisoners who remain detained under the Duterte government, as well as the growing list of human rights violations perpetrated by the AFP under its Oplan Kapayapaan.

The imposition of martial law in Mindanao will have negative implications in the ongoing NDFP-GRP peace negotiations.

As Duterte’s martial law is against the people, it is imperative for the New People’s Army (NPA) to take action to oppose and fight it in order to defend the people’s rights and interests.

If it was true that martial law in Mindanao is not directed against the NPA, then Bello must inform Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. In announcing the declaration of martial law, it was Lorenzana himself cited the NPA as one of the GRP’s “problems” why the entire Mindanao had to be put under martial law.

Moreover, even before the Duterte regime’s declaration and imposition of martial law in Mindanao, the AFP has been carrying out a dirty war through occupation of civilian communities, extrajudicial killings, abductions and detentions under its Oplan Kapayapaan. Emboldened by Duterte’s order to the military to “flatten the hills,” it has carried out aerial bombardments near civilian communities, sowing terror among the residents and damaging their livelihoods. These attacks have been carried out primarily against the peasant masses who the AFP suspect to be active in the revolutionary cause.